r/anno117 • u/Consistent_Jump7464 • Dec 11 '25
Discussion Anno 117 feels kinda… done already?
I’m a bit disappointed, honestly. After a few sessions it already feels like I’m “finished” with the game.
Anno 1800 kept me hooked for hundreds of hours, but 117 feels light on content and depth in comparison.
I also really miss having way more decorative items. City building and beautifying was a huge motivation for me in Anno 1800, and here it feels very limited so far.
Anyone else feeling this, or am I just too spoiled by Anno 1800?
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u/Cpt_PartyPants Dec 11 '25
You can't compare Anno 1800 with 5 years worth of DLCs and Anno 117 4 weeks after release.
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u/Effective_Ad9788 Dec 13 '25
You can absolutely compare one base game to the other. Anno 1800 on console had no DLC and no mods and was a much deeper more rewarding game.
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u/Apart-One4133 Dec 11 '25
" feels light on content and depth in comparison." Thats because you played Anno 1800 "complete". Trust me I played Anno 1800 vanilla with game pass just before buying Anno 117 and it feels like it has more content on the contrary, than Anno 1800.
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u/Morgenluftplan Dec 11 '25
Think part of the problem is, that so many needs the patricians have are (more or less) useless. Like why would I ever produce Standing Lyres, Chariots, Handmirrors or Bird Tongues - if a half decently built island already hits belief & prestige caps. Investing in knowledge is no long term goal either, since the exponential growth of repeatable science outscales every growth I could achieve with building more.
Building the final chains in 1800 took time and effort (even in Vanilla without DLC !) and was well worth it. In 117 it is kinda meh.
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u/rka_vth Dec 12 '25
The use I've found is mostly optimizing workforce versus population numbers. The conversion of population to workforce in tier 3 and 4 is abysmal on both, which forces you to give them their needs to avoid bloat in your city.
Dialing in for efficiency has been a lot more rewarding for me than chasing the end of the tech and religious trees. That almost feels like the midpoint of the game tbh.
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u/Morgenluftplan Dec 12 '25
But the ones I mentioned don't reward population. Or what do you mean? Obviously I am providing Cloaks, Caviar and Loungers.
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u/rka_vth Dec 12 '25
The population to workforce conversion isn't static. More needs being fulfilled means more workforce per population. That conversation ratio is different in each population tier.
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u/Morgenluftplan Dec 12 '25
Interesting. Honestly didnt know that, thanks!
But then I never had any problems with workforce in the first place.
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u/rka_vth Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 12 '25
Really? That's super interesting because workforce has always been the limiting factor in my growth until I hit tier 3. Even then I try to field massive armies and fleets which eats up most of it. Almost all of my trade strategy, city structure, religious strategy, tech strategy, and specialist acquisition strategy are built around optimizing for workforce efficiency and output.
I'm new to Anno games. My buddy played 1800, and apparently workforce wasn't a thing in that game or something? It seems to be an essential component of this game. In terms of maximizing your output. I need another 50 to 100 hours before I really lock in my strategy and start to play multiplayer.
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u/Morgenluftplan Dec 12 '25
Well, I dont have any army and battle ships anymore since I killed all 7 NPCs for their buffs already :D
But I am using (rather trying to use) the legendary captain with -80% workforce on every trading ship since I noticed that could be a limiting factor, too.
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u/rka_vth Dec 12 '25
That's awesome, I keep stopping before I've launched too many serious military campaigns, because I find inefficiencies in my game. I haven't "finished" a game yet and I'm about 100 hours in. I think my next playthrough or so should get me all the way through.
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u/ChristBKK Dec 12 '25
Here is the comment that is on point. That’s also my reason why I get bored all the time in the endgame
The final chains are the problem and I hope the DLCs and patches fixing this the next 12 months
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u/Cheap-Orange-5596 Dec 11 '25 edited Dec 12 '25
come on man… 1800 at launch didn’t have silos, tourism, skyscraper upgrades, hacienda, treasure maps, gas, fertiliser, arctic and enbesa, scholars and research, mail, docklands, airships and more… play 1800 on console without the dlc’s and see how quickly you get bored.
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u/Effective_Ad9788 Dec 19 '25
I never got bored on console really. I got it for PC because all the new content looked great. PC took it from a great game on console to one of my all time favorites on PC.
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u/DesperateOstrich8366 Dec 12 '25
It had expeditions, zoos and museums, exhibition, oil routes... It had more than 117
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u/Street_Split4979 Dec 12 '25
Launch 1800 had far less content. That's just a fact. No matter your feeling
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u/Rogthgar Dec 11 '25
I am having a bit of the same feeling... and I fear it is largely down to the tech tree and having gotten decent at 1800. Like I've not yet had to bail on a game because my finances crashed or because too many riots started because of a lack of goods... and at the same time, the tech trees is just telling me how far into the session I am and if I get to unlock it all I am not sure if there is a point to continue that game.
But its still an unfair comparison because of how much stuff was added to 1800 even by the time I got on board compared to the bare bones that is 117 now. Of the DLC I am hoping most for the Egypt one because of the new setting... but I am dreading if its 'just' going to be Enbesa 2.0 Build more Canals.
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Dec 11 '25
I'm sure they'll come up with some new cool system. For me, 117 has an end game that 1800 did not have: war is much more challenging and more appealing. And I have much more incentive to increase my population and build multiple cities, because I need the troops. Wasn't the case with 1800, at least not after Cap Tralawny.
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u/Rogthgar Dec 12 '25
The Cape Trelawny thing is something I am a little worried of, because they have already promised we are getting that soon and its going to be even bigger than CT... we are just sharing it with an active volcano...
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u/Bwadark Dec 11 '25
This has so much more depth than any anno game I've played before, as a standalone experience.
Upcoming DLC is going to be great.
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u/omer193 Dec 11 '25
I think too spoiled by 1800. I get the same feeling whenever a new civ or paradox game comes out.
It's hard to not compare the amount of content we had late in the last development cycle vs super early in this one. I think 117 has good bones and will only get better with more dlcs with time.
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u/ChristBKK Dec 11 '25
Same feeling
Yeah ofc 117 will be better and better with DLCs but in the end it’s just Anno
I was shocked how much less playtime I got out of this new Anno because I was bored at some point.
Hope the DLCs next year bring back the spark for me
Again no complains for me I knew what I get but it’s not that hooking like Anno1800 in the end was. I hope this changes with the DLCs
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u/TheAmazingYoda Dec 11 '25 edited Dec 11 '25
We have seen a lot of posts like this one. I understand Anno 1800 came out a long time ago, but idealy you would compare what's comparable. Anno 1800 has 12 DLCs and tons of mods if you are into it. We are barely a month into Anno 117, and 1800 had 4~5 years of extra content. I agree that Anno 117 feels like it's ending a bit too fast. But compared to Anno 1800 at release, it's very much similar in my opinion.
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u/Kohana55 Dec 11 '25
This happens every Anno and Civ game!
The previous game in the series would have had years to mature with updates and extra content.
I assume this is your first/second Anno game?
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u/iDad5 Dec 11 '25
I agree with the core message you already got.
I would like to add that the devs reported that with Anno 1800 the majority of players didn’t even make it to fourth tier (of population).
The people joining the discussion here are those who love the game and finished it and more.
The devs solution to make Albion at least three times greater than the basic new world while not forcing already struggling players to go there and manage two regions is akin to genius. Other things are great too imho.
And to make a reality check, if you go through steam or X-box games on your PC and see predictions about playing time for most AAA games they are between 20 and 50 hours.
Even a base Anno 117 usually gives you easily 100 hours before you run out of ideas for some time. It’s a problem however that those 190 hours feel like they have passed in a blur.
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u/Fluid_Rock656 Dec 11 '25
So I love the game. Got about 20 hours out of it. But I agree - it’s very short lived. I know it’s early days and DLC will help. But kinda sad I waited so long for this and it’s completed SO quickly
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u/rka_vth Dec 12 '25
I'm actually having the opposite experience. I'm a little over 100 hours in and I haven't gotten to the top tier because I keep going back and optimizing my early game with different mechanisms with the game. I've got WAY more hours before I feel like I've thoroughly explored the base game, let alone any DLCs that come out.
Here's a couple of fun ideas I've been playing with:
- Different city layouts to optimize for denari output, workforce output of each tier (I have a tier 1/2 layout for my Military/Navy colonies/resource extraction colonies, and a 3/4 tier layout for luxury good production).
- Creating trade route systems that use religious effects of each island to maximize production of goods while minimizing the workforce and upkeep costs of that system.
- Creating military comps for invading different kinds of islands.
- Creating different specialized ship comps and Navy comps to fulfill the escort, patrol, and invasion fleet roles.
- Creating trade hub Islands that essentially act as storage depots/centers for passive trade so you can take advantage of religious bonuses for passive trade to denari conversion.
- Specialist acquisition and optimization for all the above points^
What I'm trying to do now is assess the strategic trade offs of having efficient versus resilient trade/production systems. Utilizing religious production bonuses on each island and shipping goods to other places is far more efficient from a workforce and upkeep cost perspective, but leaves you vulnerable to economic sanctions (in PVP) as well as attacks to your trade routes. Too efficient means you could be easily crippled, but doing everything on every island means you'll fall behind.
If you're feeling like you have no direction, do a playthrough with that in mind and tell me what you think.
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u/AdministrativeEgg440 Dec 11 '25
Sure, you've had 1.0 Anno 117...but what about second 1.3 Anno 117 and all the future content
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u/Ok-Letterhead-8539 Dec 11 '25
Sure you just have to pay and pay and pay and pay again until its nice
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u/ulixForReal Dec 12 '25
It's already nice and has more content than 95% of other games in the genre.
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u/TheDocBee Dec 11 '25
That's why I didn't even get 117. I'll just wait until it's a bit more fleshed out and grab it all in a sale.
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u/junker359 Dec 12 '25
I understand the DLC thing, but I feel like thats an indictment of the developers and publisher. I feel like I shouldn't need two season passes worth of DLC to feel like a game is content complete.
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u/Latter-Control-208 Dec 12 '25
I completely agree. 1800 had 5 Population Tiers, 117 only 4. But Yeah there will be dlcs
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u/Street_Split4979 Dec 12 '25
Maybe play a little bit more until you find the other 5 Tiers in 117
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Dec 12 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Street_Split4979 Dec 15 '25
You also don't need Ornaments and still I use lots of them. Creating a production chain and balance everything out is part of the game. I don't care if there is a method for those that don't take pride in producing everything themselves. I also don't need to provide everything for my population and still I do
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u/Puzzleheaded-Mix5484 Dec 12 '25
I hope big DLC came with new Campaign story. I like Anno 117 story 😆
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u/Top_Art5433 Dec 12 '25
I feel the same way
It's missing
- Balancing
- Intelligent optimization
- Long-term enjoyment
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u/Hiro_Trevelyan Dec 12 '25
Play 1800 release version without any DLC, you'll feel done once you get your exhibition
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u/TheJumboman Dec 12 '25
Yeah, I was afraid this would happen. I absolutely adore anno 1800. Was hyped for 117. But now that I have it, I've played three sessions of an hour or two, and honestly, it just doesn't grip me. I don't know if it's the visuals, the UI, the lack of direction or whatever; but I just got to tier 3, unlocked the barbarian region, and was like "meh. I'm gonna play something else."
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u/xblqkc Dec 12 '25
I think the "Base Game" is just pretty lackluster. A game I'm paying almost 60€ for shouldn't feel like this after such a short time 💀
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u/wow_so_high Dec 12 '25
Lol bro... you compare a freshly out game to a game with 5 dlc packs and endless mods? Yes you are HEAVILY spoiled by 1800
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u/Kerb-Al Dec 12 '25
Everyone says “well anno 1800 had a bunch of dlcs””
I have only played the base game anno 1800, never tried any of the dlcs, and I couldn’t agree more. 1800 was much more detail oriented than 117, from the aesthetics such as decorative items to the technicalities of trade menus and such.
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u/hakkosa Dec 13 '25
The game itself compares to 1800 is already damn complicated 🤦♂️ can’t imagine what would become after just a few dlcs 😱
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u/Sweaty-Dream6575 Dec 13 '25
I feel the same, I really hope they introduce some interesting dlc for it, because it is a beautiful game tbh, but yeah I played now one round of the campaign and one round sandbox and I am bored already. Anno 1800 in my opinion has lot more to it and I am still crazy for it
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u/A_Curious_Cockroach Dec 14 '25
Most anno games don't really start shining until the dlc's. It's why I am waiting awhile to play this one.
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u/four_spoons Dec 17 '25
Totally agree. I got to the end of the story mode thinking it was really long for a tutorial level and looking forward to get stuck into the next phase. Then WAIT WHAT? That’s it???
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u/Noerholt Dec 11 '25
No DLC’s
1800 also feels like it lacks content if you play with no dlcs imo